Convertible cap plug



Sept. 27, 1932.

L. BARNETT CONVERTIBLE CAP PLUG Patented Sept. 27, 1932 UNITED STATESLOUIS BARNETT, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK CONVERTIBLE CAP :PLUG

Application led February 8, 1927. Serial No. 166,630.

This invention relates to attachment fittings for connecting portableappliance and lighting system to an electric power source andparticularly is directed to improvements in the cap portions ofseparable attachment plugs.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved attachment plug-capof the character described which may be used either as a standardcap-plug or may be converted into the receptacle type of cap-plug toprovide an extra outlet when required.

Another object of the invention is to provide an outlet receptacleitting of improved construction which is adapted to be fitted to acap-plug of standard make to convert it into a receptacle type cap-plug.

- Still another object of the invention is to provide cap-plugs andattachment outlet fittings comprising simple parts, which shall be cheaptomanufacture, easy to assemble, form a rugged structure yet be neat inappearance, and practical and eiiicient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in parthereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will beexempliied in the construction here inafter described and of which thescope of application will be indicated in the following claims. A

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown several of the variouspossible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of an improved attachment cap-plug with 'anoutlet receptacle 4.ol fitting applied thereto embodying the inventionshowing one practical application for connecting a plurality of circuitsto one power source' tap.

Figv 2 is a. bottom plan view of the improved. attachment cap-plug andoutlet tting showing the cover plate removed to expose: the interior'construction..

Fig. 3 is a topplan view thereof. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view takenon line 4 4 in Fig.

v plug 10 thus far described is'similar to stand- Fig. 5 is a frontelevational view of the improved attachment cap-plug with a ttingapplied thereto to provide a plurality of outlet receptacles.

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of a modi- 55 ication of theinvention showing a cap-plug of standard construction having an improvedoutlet receptacle fitting applied thereto, the latter being shown insection.

Figs. 7 and 8 are top and bottom plan 60 views, respectively of themodification shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 9--9 in Fig. 8.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 10 de- 05 notes an improvedcap-plug, and 11, a receptacle outlet fitting detachably secured theretoto form a receptacle type of cap-plug embodying the invention adapted tobe inserted into a baseboard, flush-receptacle or xture socket outlet(not shown) in the well known manner.

The cap plug 10 may comprise a body portion 12 formed of insulatingmaterial such as porcelain, pheno-condensate products or other likesuitable substances and metallic. current carrying portions 13.The'latter may be secured in any suitable manner to the insulating bodyportion 12 as by means of metallic eyelet anchors 14 which areprefererably molded into Said body portion. The current carryingportions 13 comprise terminal blades 15 extending outwardly from a sideof the body portions 12, said side being itted with a cover plate 16made of insulating sheet material to form the bottom face 120 .of theplug. The ends of the blades 15 prothe current carrying portions 13 toan electric appliance (not shown) in the well understood manner. The.construction of the cap ard types of cap-plugs well known ,in the artand shown at 110 in Fig. 6.

To provide for the improved convertible feature, the cap-plug 10 whichis formed with a central recess 12e, may be made with recesses orchannelled portions 12d on edge portions of the bottom face 12o. SeeFigs. 1 and `2. The recesses or channelled portions 12d are adapted toreceive the cover plate 16, the latter extending outwardly of the bodyportion 12 and serving as a support for mounting the receptacle outletfitting 11.

Said fitting 11 is seen to comprise a body 11a preferably formed ofmaterial similar to the cap-body portion 12 and is provided with socketopenings 11b. Spring contact members 19 of any suitable constructionextend into said openings 11a and are formed withvfiat extensions 19a.The ends of the latter are secured by the binding screws 17 to connectthe members 19 in circuit with the current carrying portions 13. Thecontact member 19 extends only partially into the openings 11beliminating assible short circuits or injury to persons; handling thedevice. If desired, each member 1.9 may be provided with a protuberance19?) adapted to releasably engage an opening 15b in terminal blades 15of a cap-plug adapted to be inserted in the openings 11b for connectingwith members 19.

The fitting body 11a preferably has one side 11e shaped to conform tothe contour of the cap-plug 10 so that the openings 11b and the passage12?) may be spaced as close together as possible without causinginterference with the extending conduct sr wires 18 of a plug capconnected in circuit at said fitting.

To secure the fitting 11 in posin` n on the extension of plate 16 anysuitable fastening means may be provided, such as a screw 2O extendingthrough the body 11a between the openings 11b. The screw 2O engages anut member 21 held against rotation on the plate 16. Said fasteningmeans not only anchors the fitting 11 to the plate 16 but also retainscap-plug lOand said fitting 11 in rigid assembly to form a unit as shownin Fig. 1.

It is to be understood that the fitting 11 may extend from either sildeof the capplug 10 or a pair of ttingsI 11 may be used to provide a unitwith two receptacle outlets, as shown in Fig. 5. In forming the multipleoutlet receptacle cap-plug 10, the plate 26 corresponding to plate 16described above is made to extend outwardly in opposite directions withrespect to the blades 15.

In using the invention, the cap plug 1() may be secured to the free endsof conductor wires 18 extending from an appliance (not shown) andconnected in circuit at any suitable receptacle outlet in the wellunderstood manner. If it is desired to convert said capplug into one ofthe receptacle outlet type cap-plugs, the fitting 11 is simply attachedthereto as shown in either Fig. 1 or 5. By using an improved plug 10with multi le outlet fitting shown in Fig. 5, three porta le cir cuitscan be tapped in at one power source outlet, two of them may becap-plugs of standard construction.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are shown a modified construction embodying theinvention.v Here, .110 denotes a cap-plug of any standard wellunderstood construction which may be already connected to an appliancein use. An outlet fitting 111 is applied to the cap plug 110 to convertit into the receptacle type of cap-plug. For this purpose, the fitting111 is provided with a plate 116 which is firmly secured to the bodyportion 112 of the fitting 111 by any suitable means such as eyeletanchor 214. Said plate 116 is made to cxtending outwardly from said bodyportion 112 as at 116a, the extended portion 1160i forming a closureCovering for the bottom side 110@ of the cap-plug 110. Said portion 116ahas a pair of slots 1166 aligned to permit the free passage of theterminal blades 115 of the plug 110. The plate 116 serves also to retainthespring member contacts 119 formed at one end of the circuit carryingportions 113 in the position in socket openings 11a of the body portions112. The other ends 118 of said current carrying portions 113 areextended to form detachably engageable contacts with the cap-plugterminal blades 115. To secure said ends 118 to the portions 116a theremay be provided fastening lugs 120 which extend through said portion116a as shown in the drawing, said ends 118 being formed with slots 118ac onieident with the slots 1165. The rim portions of the slots 118@ arebent into the slots 116?) to form lips which serve as scraping andclamping contacts against the terminal blades, as shown in detail inFigs. 8 and 9.

The operation of converting a standard cap-plug 110 into a receptacletype fitting is thus seen to be a simple matter. The blades 115 aremerely inserted through the slotted Contact end 118 of the fitting 111.The plate 116 is made relatively thin so that the effective length ofthe terminal blades is not materially decreased. The convertedattachment fitting thus formed is now ready for use. Connecting the capplug 110 to a power source also connects the fitting 111 and retains itin a relatively fixed position with respect to the cap-plug.

The fitting body portion 112 is preferably made with a curved side112erl to conform with the contour of the cap-plug 110 like the curvedside 110 provided on the'body 11a, described above.

A fitting 111 may be extended from either sides of the cap-plug110 asindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6. If a plurality of fittings 11 isdesired, they may be secured on the mountmg plate and applied to thecap-plug 110 to form a unit with several receptacle outlets in a mannersimilar to the construction of fitting 21 described above.

It should be noted that the detachable `connection shown for the fitting111 with the blades 115 of the cap-plug 110 may be provided forconnecting the fitting 11 with the cap-plug 10, if desired.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which theseveral objects of this invention are achieved, and which is welladapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

,As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention,and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth,it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent:

` 1. A fitting of the character described comprising a cap-plug havingterminal blades projecting from one side thereof, said side having arecess formed therein adjacent the blades, and a receptacle outletfitting having portions thereof extending into the said recess fordetachably connecting with the terminal blades to form a unit.

2. A fitting of the character described comprising a cap-plug havingterminal blades projecting from one side thereof, said side havingrecesses formed therein adjacent the blades, and a plurality ofinterconnected receptable outlet fittings each having a portion thereoffitted into one of said recesses for detachably connecting with theterminal blades to form a unit.

3. In combination a cap plug having terminal blades projecting from oneface thereof, said face having a recess formed therein, said recessextending laterally to the periphery of said face, an insulating platecovering said face and having a portion protruding beyond said cap, anda receptacle outlet fitting supported by said plate and having portionsthereof extending into the said recess for detachably connecting withthe terminal blades.

4. In combination a cap plug having ter-l minal blades projecting fromone face thereof, an insulating plate covering said face and having aportion protruding beyond said cap, a receptacle outlet fittingsupported by said plate and having one lateral face thereof shaped toconform to the adjacent lateral face of the said ca p plug, receptacleterminals mounted within said fitting and means for electricallyconnecting said terminals with said blades.

5. In combination a cap plug having terminal blades projecting from oneface there- `terminal blades projecting of, said face having a recessformed therein and extending laterally to the periphery of said face, aninsulating plate covering said face and having a portion extendingbeyond said cap, a receptacle outlet fitting supported by said plate,receptacle terminals disposed within said fitting and the laterallydisposed metallic strips passing-through said recess, said strips beingelectrically connected to said receptacle terminals, and means fordetachably and electrically connecting said strips to said blades.

6. In combination a cap plug having terminal blades projecting from oneface thereof, said face having a recess formed therein and extendinglaterally to the periphery of said face, an insulating plate coveringsaid face and having portions extending beyond said cap, receptacleoutlet fittings supported by said plate having a portion of one of itslateral faces shaped to conform to the lateral face of the cap plug,receptacle terminals `disposed within said fittings, and the laterallydisposed metallic strips passing through said recess, said strips beingelectrically connected to said receptacle terminals, and means fordetachably and electrically connecting said strips to said blades.

7. A convertible cap plug of the character described having parallelly-spaced blades projecting from one face thereof, said face having acentral recess having4 a channelled portion formed therein, theperipheral rim wall of said recess being cut away in alignment with thespace between said blades for receiving a portion of a detachableconnection of a receptacle outlet fitting.

8. A device of the character described for converting a conventional caplug having om one side thereof into a receptacle type tting camprisingan insulating body having socket openings and current carrying partsextending into said openings to. form a receptacle outlet, said bodyhaving a lateralside protruding end shaped to conform to said side ofthe cap plug, said parts extending along the protruding end of thelateral `side and terminating in detachable connections adapted to joinportions of the cap plug blades.

9. An attachment fitting for a portable electric appliance comprising acap-plug having current. carrying parts including spaced parallellyaligned terminal blades projecting from one side of said plug, and areceptacle outlet portion having means detachably connecting with saidplug blades to form a unit, substantially the entire length of saidblades extending through and beyond said means to permit connectingblades to a power source.

10. In combination with a plug comprising a base and a'cap, said caphaving prongs positioned thereon and adapted to enter said base, areceptacle adapted to be attached to said plug, said receptacle having apair of parallel spaced conductors secured thereto, said conductorshaving their free extremities perforated so as to engage the prongs ofsaid cap in such a manner as to lie in a plane at right angles to saidprongs and said conductors being positioned between said base and saidcap.

11. A receptacle adapted to receive a bulb,

said receptacle having a pair of conductors i extending therefrom and atright angles to the axis of said receptacle, said conductors lyingparallel with each other in such a manner as to have their surfaces ofgreatest Width in the same plane, each of said conductors having anopening formed in the end thereof for the purpose of permitting saidconductors to pass over the prongs of a plug cap in the mannerdescribed.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

LOUIS BARNETT.

